Silver Rain

Chapter 19

"I'm scared, Felix. I want to trust you," were the words that Felix didn't know he needed to hear. They echoed in his mind, even as he lay in the car, watching over Olivia as she finally succumbed to sleep. Her vulnerability, her willingness to trust him despite everything, stirred something deep within him. He had made a promise to protect her, to keep her safe no matter what, and her words had solidified his resolve.

The morning light filtered through the windows, casting a gentle glow over Olivia's sleeping form. Felix couldn't tear his eyes away from her. She looked so peaceful, so vulnerable. The worry lines that seemed to penetrate between her brows were gone.

He studied her face, committing every detail to memory. In the soft morning light, she seemed almost otherworldly, a fragile beauty amidst the chaos that had become their reality. Long blonde hair, cascaded in waves around her face, catching the light in a way that made it seem almost golden. Her eyelashes, dark and delicate, fanned out against her cheeks. Her skin was fair, dotted with a scattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks, like a constellation of stars. Felix remembered a princess movie his sister had adored when they were kids—Olivia looked like she had stepped right out of that fairy tale, a living embodiment of grace and innocence.

Her green eyes, which he had seen flicker with fear, determination, and defiance, were closed now, giving her an ethereal quality. Felix knew that behind those eyes lay a strength she probably didn't even recognize in herself. He admired her courage, the way she faced the unknown despite her fears. She had a quiet strength, something he admired in her.

As she slept, her lips parted slightly, Felix felt a surge of protectiveness. He wanted to shield her from all the dangers they faced, to ensure that no harm ever came to her. The world outside seemed so distant, so inconsequential compared to the weight of the promise he had made to her.

Olivia had stuck through tired nights, fear-ridden dreams, and poured her heart into books and research to help find answers. On paper, she was just a citizen of Brookside, to him in his heart, Olivia was part of the pack.

Calvin stirred beside him, rubbing his eyes and stretching in the passenger seat. "You get any sleep?" he asked, his voice rough with fatigue.

Felix shook his head. "No, but it's fine."

Calvin glanced back at Olivia, his eyes lingered on Felix's and Olivia's conjoined hands. When Calvin looked back at him, his eyebrows rose. He didn't have to say anything for Felix to hear him loud and clear.

"So much for bait, huh?" Calvin's mouth grew slowly while spreading over his face.

Felix rolled his eyes, gently withdrawing his hand from Olivia's. It felt as though he were severing a connection as the warmth left his hand. He straightened up, stretching his arms and legs, trying to shake off the stiffness from the long night.

"It's not like that, Calvin," he muttered, trying to keep his voice low so as not to wake her. "She was scared. That's all."

A small chuckle came from Calvin. "You seem to be getting pretty invested. What was that you wrote on her file again? Something about-"

"Nothing changed," Felix replied, tone curt. "All of it is still the same as it has been and will be."

His mind was still replaying the events of the previous night and those before it. The witches, the shadow bodies, the constant danger—they were all very real threats. But it was Olivia's fear, her vulnerability, that weighed heaviest on his mind. She had been so strong, so determined, but even the strongest needed someone to lean on. And he had sworn to be that person for her.